What I wish would happen is that those that benefitted from the play, or those who support their side of it, would admit that they got away with it. I have done so with the Majkowski pass that beat the Bears in '89.

It was because a) he was entirely over the line of scrimmage b) the ball was over the line of scrimmage and c) he had stepped over the line of scrimmage. Under all interpretations of the rule, he got away with it. To add fuel to the fire, the replay rules did not have the time limit on them that they do today, but the rule was still clear evidence that the call should be reversed (it was ruled illegal on the field) and it took 8 minutes to decide to reverse it. As much as I would glad to win the game and see Mike Ditka turn purple over it, there is little doubt to unbiased observers that the Packers won on a bad call in that game.

As always, the best way to avoid losing on a bad call is not to be in a position to lose on a bad call, but it doesn't mean that the call wasn't terrible or didn't have a monumental impact on the outcome. In the case of the Fail Mary, the call was blown, the officiating of the ruling on the field was blown, the replay review was blown, and the league even admitted they missed a clear OPI call on Tate.

It was because a) he was entirely over the line of scrimmage b) the ball was over the line of scrimmage and c) he had stepped over the line of scrimmage. Under all interpretations of the rule, he got away with it. To add fuel to the fire, the replay rules did not have the time limit on them that they do today, but the rule was still clear evidence that the call should be reversed (it was ruled illegal on the field) and it took 8 minutes to decide to reverse it. As much as I would glad to win the game and see Mike Ditka turn purple over it, there is little doubt to unbiased observers that the Packers won on a bad call in that game.

Wow, that is weird. I watched that game and the replay many years later and he didn't touch grass beyond the line of scrimmage, thus making the play legit. I will have to find that footage and check again.

Sorry guys, in the video, the narrator says he's "clearly behind the line of scrimmage at the 15" but if you freeze it, his feet, his body and the ball are all past it. On top of which, the ruling on the field was that it was an illegal pass, and there is NO WAY that is clearly something that should be overturned. The only thing that can even marginally justify the amount of time it took to make the reversal is that they were debating how the rule defined what constituted being over the line, but again, if it is that close, it shouldn't have been overturned, and by any of the possible definitions, he was past the 15.

Sorry guys, in the video, the narrator says he's "clearly behind the line of scrimmage at the 15" but if you freeze it, his feet, his body and the ball are all past it. On top of which, the ruling on the field was that it was an illegal pass, and there is NO WAY that is clearly something that should be overturned. The only thing that can even marginally justify the amount of time it took to make the reversal is that they were debating how the rule defined what constituted being over the line, but again, if it is that close, it shouldn't have been overturned, and by any of the possible definitions, he was past the 15.

Now how is THAT for beating a dead horse?

The ball and body can be past the line of scrimmage, providing the thrower releases the ball prior to landing beyond the line of scrimmage. Did that happen? I'm asking seriously. I'm at work and can't really be analyzing video here lol

Edit, Hmm ... I need to re-read this apparently.

Article 2 Legal Forward Pass. http://static.nfl.com/st...Pass_BackPass_Fumble.pdfThe offensive team may make one forward pass from behind the line during each down. If the ball, whether in player possession or loose, crosses the line of scrimmage, a forward pass is not permissible, regardless of whether the ball returns behind the line of scrimmage before the pass is thrown.

Item 1: Illegal Passes. Any other forward pass by either team is illegal and is a foul by the passing team, including:

(a) A forward pass thrown when the passer is beyond the line of scrimmage. Note: It is a forward pass from beyond the line of scrimmage if the passer’s entire body and the ball are beyond the line of scrimmage when the ball is released, whether the passer is airborne or touching the ground. The penalty for a forward pass thrown from beyond the line is enforced from the spot where the ball is released.

(b) A second forward pass thrown from behind the line of scrimmage.

(c) A forward pass thrown after the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage and has returned behind it.

(d) A forward pass thrown after there has been a change of possession.

Sorry guys, in the video, the narrator says he's "clearly behind the line of scrimmage at the 15" but if you freeze it, his feet, his body and the ball are all past it. On top of which, the ruling on the field was that it was an illegal pass, and there is NO WAY that is clearly something that should be overturned. The only thing that can even marginally justify the amount of time it took to make the reversal is that they were debating how the rule defined what constituted being over the line, but again, if it is that close, it shouldn't have been overturned, and by any of the possible definitions, he was past the 15.

Now how is THAT for beating a dead horse?

Seeing how the line of scrimmage was the 14 yd line, I'd say he had at least a 1/2 yard cushion. Legal play. Ref's got it right on the review.

We can disagree on where the line was...but on a review looking at that film it is inconclusive, and therefore shouldn't have been overturned. I called it the 15 because that's what the newsguy called it in that clip, but obviously he's not necessarily right either. Thanks btw to whomever moved these posts to their own thread...they belonged here.

We can disagree on where the line was...but on a review looking at that film it is inconclusive, and therefore shouldn't have been overturned. I called it the 15 because that's what the newsguy called it in that clip, but obviously he's not necessarily right either. Thanks btw to whomever moved these posts to their own thread...they belonged here.

Many sources state the LOS was the 14.

Quote:

Instant replay official Bill Parkinson's long-awaited ruling gave back to the Packers a game-tying, Don Majkowski-to-Sterling Sharpe touchdown pass. That 14-yard pass had seemingly tied the score at 13-13 with 32 seconds left. Or had it?

With an apparent 14-yard touchdown strike from Don Majkowski to Sterling Sharpe, the Packers were about to win the game 14-13 against the stronger Bears, led by coach Mike Ditka. The referee ruled it no touchdown because Majkowski had crossed the line of scrimmage before passing to Sharpe.

The winning drive was no waltz down Lambeau Field. Majkowski had two passes tipped at the line and four others fell incomplete. But he did connect on six attempts, saving the best, the 14-yarder to Sharpe, for last.

The game where the Packers "got away with one" was the game against the Baltimore Colts back in the early 1960's.Don Chandler (i'm pretty sure it was him) clearly shanked a field goal, which the refs called "good". It tied the game, and allowed the Packers to win in overtime.That game was the one that made the NFL lenghten the goal posts by i believe 10 feet, to make it easier to tell if a FG was good or bad.

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